a grim, fixed look on his face that few had ever seen before.
He joined the others. And then while [he] and Gouvernail went to the
prison chamber of the damsel, Helene, and rescued her with little
effort, Sir Galahad went down to the dungeon door and there overcame
the guard with ease and opened the door wide with the keys obtained.
And Walker carried the weak lad to the entrance door and so they
joined the others.
So then Sir Galahad and Sir Launcelot with the two squires went for
and obtained their horses, without suspicion. With the two they had
rescued, the whole party rode forth from the castle. And but for the
outcry of the guards at the gate which they forced them to open wide,
they had no one to cope with.
Forth they road swiftly, Merlin carrying the young girl and Charles
supporting the boy, leaving the others free to ride behind and meet
such pursuers as might come.
But none pursued.
"I think they will find a task on hand to care for the other prisoners
the open dungeon door unloosed," Sir Galahad said.
"And with the wonder over Sir Dolphus," Sir Launcelot added and his
look was far away.
A day later found them at the castle of Sanscourt. Happy was my Lady
Jeanne over the return of her dear children and grateful, too. It did
not take long for them to prepare to go forth to England with Sir
Launcelot and Merlin.
So they bade each the other goodbye. And as they went forth, Sir
Galahad watching them go, said to the Lady Jeanne,
"Still hope, my lady. For I shall bring or send you word of Sir
Vilard, good or bad."
"I shall never cease to hope, Sir Galahad. And I shall pray for you,
each day until you return."
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Facing the East
So then the trio turned toward the East seeking but never finding that
all elusive Grail which seemed ever ahead of them. Strange lands they
passed through and it left them with wonderment at the bigness of the
world in which they lived.
For Sir Galahad and for the boy Charles, each day brought the wonder
of new things to see. For Walker, the Squire, though he would not make
confession to his master, there grew the wish to see again the
pleasant green of England's shore. None of the wonders of these
strange lands held allure for him, since they but proved England's
greater worth.
But when twitted by his master he would make no confession of his
home-sickness.
"Nay master. I am a man and would hold it weak whimsy to let yearning
for my home land encompass me. I go where you will and soon enough
will I make return to our home shores."
And the Grail, Symbol of Honor, of Faith, of Service and of Piety! No
nearer to the finding did the young knight appear to be. Even so, the
zest for it, the need for finding it stayed ever with him.
So he reached Rome and stayed in it for many days. Many strangers
were there from many lands but few who knew of the Holy Grail. And
none who could tell him where it could be found.
"I would seek, were I you, in the Holy Land," said one pious man.
While still another thought so holy a thing would never be permitted
to go so far as England and that the knight's search was fruitless.
From Rome Sir Galahad went north to Lombardy in search of news of Sir
Vilard. Long was his search here but not hopeless. Nor need we make
record of how at last he found that the Gascon was not dead but
imprisoned with some of the other knights of that ill fated group. And
when ransom was agreed to he returned to Rome and sent a message to
Sir Launcelot by a friendly English knight to find the Lady Jeanne and
have sent to him the ransom desired.
Months passed. Then came Ambrose and with him the gold for the freedom
of his father and his companions. So that they were free. Only then
did Sir Galahad go on.
He reached the Holy Land in company with others, men who came there to
pay reverence, men who came to repent of many sins, men who ever
restless must journey everywhere. And on the way he had gained the
friendship of an old priest whose journey he had made somewhat the
lighter by such help as youth may offer old age.
The priest had been greatly interested in the mission of the knight.
Many were his questions, of where Sir Galahad had traveled, how far he
purposed to journey in his search.
"My journeys shall not cease, good father, until I have found the
Grail. For so have I set my whole life that I may find it. And time
counts not. Though I wish it could be found right soon for then may I
turn my face to England." Since Sir Galahad had spoken of Yosalinde,
the priest understood.
"What then, Sir Knight, makes you think you will find the Grail in far
lands?" the priest asked.
"It must need be so, since were it nearer home it would have been
found long since."
To which the priest made no answer.
Days later, when they were gathered about again he told the story of
Elam, the son of Anner, who had a great desire to gain wisdom and
knowledge.
"So then, young friends, he started out to learn from all the founts
of wisdom. Far he traveled and much he learned."
And then the reverend man gave long account of the places to which
Elam had gone and the things he had learned. It was a tale of many
years and it took time in the telling.
"Then when he had learned much of the wisdom of the then world and had
gained in knowledge, he returned home. And when he was there but a few
days, lo, he found that yet had his father Anner, greater knowledge
than he and wisdom more profound. And he knew this now, returned home
from all his sojournings. Nor would he have known this unless he had
traveled far, for my sons, it was in this way that he gained the
vision to see. Of a truth, it was then that he knew that his father
was wisest of men and well could he learn from him."
"I have not heard of this man Elam, before," Sir Galahad said. "Yet
had he great need to travel, if he gained this vision to see."
"True and well spoken, Sir Knight," replied the priest and watched him
keenly.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Homeward
Still further did Sir Galahad have a mind to travel but he found from
learned men that to go further East was to travel into uncertainties
which few had ventured before him. Nor would he have paused even
then, were it not that he realized well that little likelihood was
there for the Lost Grail to be found in the far East.
So he turned his face west again. Slowly he made his way home. There
were days now, he misdoubted the success of his search and he
questioned his own worthiness.
After months and months of travel he reached France once again. When
he came to Gascony he found the rightful ruler on the throne and the
house of Sanscourt, well and happy. Great was the welcome given the
knight by the happy family and a great feast was held for them. The
Lady Jeanne was radiant with the happiness which had returned after
seeming desertion.
"We owe you much, Sir Galahad," said Sir Vilard, "so very much that it
is beyond repayment."
"Mine and Sir Launcelot's was the joy of service, my lord. That you
must well understand."
When they reached Normandy, Charles was given a happy reception. He
had grown, and had profited well by his travels and service to Sir
Galahad whom he would not leave now. For he hoped to be made a knight
by him. In Normandy, Sir Galahad stayed for more than a month. He had
acquired great fame because of his travels and deeds yet did he find
small pleasure in this for the great purpose of his journeys had
failed.
It was on a day just before he was to return to England. He had
mounted the Seeker and without companion had gone forth for the
morning. His thoughts were of the Grail, of his great wish to find it,
and ever with his thoughts the wish to prove to Yosalinde that it was
in him to find it. Well he knew that she would understand his desire
even though he could not bring to her the fulfillment of that desire.
"Yet who am I to find myself disheartened. I must not question, keep
ever seeking." So he thought to himself and gave no heed to where the
Seeker carried him.
Nor did it seem strange to the knight that he found himself in a
narrow path of the woods and before him the strange monk who had first
given him urge to seek the Holy Grail.
"I greet you, holy father. Nor can I say to you that I have yet proven
worthy of the finding of that which I have long sought."
"Yet have you traveled far, my son. Is it not so?"
"Far and to many lands, holy sir. But nowhere have I found that which
brought me nearer to it."
"Too, I know how worthy of the finding you are. Well have you kept
your purpose high, knightly have your deeds been?"
"Holy father, I have but tried. Ever have I kept your words before me.
And deem it all worth the while, even though it end with my not
finding the Grail. For, father, this will I always say, that joy has
there been in the seeking."
"Think you then, my son, you will not find it?" the monk asked.
"I know not, father. Think me not grown tired of the search. Think not
that I complain that the search is long or arduous. I shall go on
seeking where the call may lead me. And ever seek to be worthy of
finding it. He who decides all things shall decide as to that. Nor
will He find me ever questioning. For this I have found. God is good
and His ways are ever for the best."
"Glad am I to hear that the search goes on. My blessing goes with you.
Well have I kept the count of all the days of your journeyings and
great is my pride in you. So son, seek on for who can tell what the
morrow brings."
Then the holy man left him. Yet Sir Galahad did not go until long
after sundown. And when he did, doubled was the strength of his
purpose.
And on the morrow he was on his way to England.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The Beggar And The Grail
England to Charles, was indeed strange but so much had Walker spoken
thereof that he looked forward to seeing it as if it were his native
land. The joy of Walker at its nearness, though he tried to hide it
under pretended calm was yet a thing quite obvious to Sir Galahad and
the boy and much did it amuse them.
"Of all the fair lands we have passed through, have you yet found none
that pleased you more, good Walker?" the knight asked him.
"There is but one heaven, my master and there is but one England,"
replied Walker.
"Then must I confess my sorrow at keeping you this long time from
heaven," said his master with mock regret.
"Nay, master, one can only know heaven when one has seen all the other
places. Too, I care not even for England when my master is not there."
"Kind words, good Walker. And spoke I ten times as kindly, yet could I
not do justice to how much you have counted and how well. Will I say
this, that I find it sweet to know that we are so near to England's
shores and that it is but a few days when we shall again find
ourselves at home. I would see all our friends, the good king, Sir
Percival, Sir Gareth, Sir Launcelot and the others. This wind that
fills these sails cannot blow too strong for me."
Well did the wind hold yet did it seem as if the next days were over
long. At last they were but a half day from the great castle of King
Arthur.
Now as they rode, adventure there had been none since they had left
Normandy, they were stopped by a strange beggar who sought alms. Sick
did he seem, ragged and wretched, and as if life could hold but little
for him. It was the selfsame beggar they had passed when they started
on their journey.
"Good master, I starve. Charity I seek."
Now though, Sir Galahad was impatient to reach the castle, yet did he
stop for the poor wretch drew his pity.
"What will you, my man?"
"Food, if you have it, Sir Knight. Such help as you can give so low a
thing as me."
So then without further ado, he bade Walker feed the knave, which the
latter did, grumbling at the delay the same must cause. Then, the
knight spoke kindly again to the beggar and gave him some silver.
"Master," the beggar said. "The Lord will bless you, for you found
time for so wretched a soul as me. Far have you traveled, many of high
degree have found it honor to hold speech with you. So great a knight
as you and yet have you had time for the beggar on the road.
"Honor have you shown, Faith have you ever had. Service have you
rendered. This day you prove that you have Piety and Charity. So then
for your food and for your silver and your kind words and the spirit
behind it all, I pay you now. Here, then is the Grail. Long sought in
many lands, in many places, yet was it always near at home."
"The Grail? Here, where I never thought to see it. And a beggar to
possess it. Aye, even the lowliest possesses riches."
Mixed were the knight's emotions nor could he voice the thoughts and
the feelings within him. While nearby the two with him watched it all
in awed silence.
"Aye, Sir Galahad. Think not that your search in far lands was
fruitless. Rather was it the caldron in which your worth was seasoned.
Yet will this fact ever remain--that one need not travel far to find
Honor, Faith, Service and Piety. For these are ever near."
"I am like Elam who went everywhere and found that what he sought was
near at home."
"True, good knight. This day shall be a great day for England, for
through the worth of one of its knights, the Grail stays here. Go you
then, for word will already be at the Round Table that Sir Galahad
comes with the Grail."
"Strange man, I know not what to say. Dear is the possession of this
precious vessel to me. Long have I sought it. And to find it to have
been so near at home stirs mixed and wondrous feelings within me. So I
can but go and if I fail to say the thing I should, forgive me."
The knight, Charles and Walker as well, found themselves kneeling to
receive the benediction of this strange man who was both beggar and
holy man. And when they looked up again he was gone.
"Thought I," said Walker, "that that day, my master found this Grail
there would be great doings, that there would be great combats.
Instead of which a seeming beggar has it to give us. Verily, it is far
beyond me."
And the good squire scratched his head in great puzzlement.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Conclusion
We find our story now near ended. We can well see the great welcome
given the still youthful knight as he entered the great hall. There
was King Arthur in high good humor. About him stood many of the
knights of the Round Table, and among them Sir Galahad saw his many
friends. And as the young knight stood there there came to him the
memory of that first day and the wondrous hope he had had now come
true.
In all the hall none was so happy as that brave and noble hearted
knight, Sir Launcelot. Well pleased he was. Merlin was there, also
well content. And there, when they sat down to the great feast spread
out for them, Sir Galahad told the story of his search or the Grail. A
long tale it was for they would hear it all. To it they listened in
silence, without interruption, until he had done.
Though he showed it not, the young knight was eager to be free of all
these friends. For he had great desire to hasten to the home of Sir
Percival. He knew from what Sir Percival told him, Yosalinde would he
there. Yet could he not leave until the late afternoon.
Swiftly did the Seeker take him there. Eagerly he sought the sight of
the castle as if in seeing that, he would also see this damsel who had
helped so much to give him the great purpose of his search. But it was
not until he had entered within, that he saw her.
So we draw the curtain and leave you to suppose the joy and the
gladness of this welcome. And though to each the finding of the Holy
Grail was of high importance yet they spoke not of that but of other
things for many an hour until the sun had gone down and darkness had
come.
Wonderful was the picture Sir Galahad had carried of his lady, yet he
found the real presence far dearer. Of the things they talked, one was
the future and what it meant to both of them.
We leave them then. High the moon shines, the stars are everywhere. It
is a wonderful night, soft the gentle breeze. Such a night as each
had pictured for their first meeting.
Charles, the Norman lad, had his wish come true in good time, when Sir
Galahad made him a knight. Then the new knight made his way back to
Normandy. It was his children's children who made their way in later
days to England and settled there.
The deeds of the brave knights of the Round Table continued great and
glorious. Sir Galahad, Sir Launcelot, Sir Percival and the others
upheld the honor of King Arthur's court. And never did Sir Galahad
lower the banner of his great house.
Honor, Faith, Service and Piety.
[Illustration]
End of Project Gutenberg's In the Court of King Arthur, by Samuel Lowe